| For Release: IMMEDIATE | Contact: Public Affairs |
| Date: November 19, 2004 | (919) 807-6963 |
LAMBETH AND DISHER AWARDED HIGHEST HONOR FROM STATE BOARD OF
COMMUNITY COLLEGES
Dr. Ed Wilson named President of the Year, others honored
RALEIGH: As former executive director of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, Thomas W. Lambeth was accustomed to giving. But today, it was his turn to receive. The State Board of Community Colleges presented Lambeth with its highest honor, the I. E. Ready Award in recognition of his invaluable assistance to North Carolina's community colleges. Lambeth was involved in many projects benefiting the NCCCS, including the development of the Commission on the Future of North Carolina's Community Colleges. The recommendations from that commission helped to strengthen the System's partnerships with the University of North Carolina and helped community colleges create a more flexible response to economic change. A native of Johnston County and a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, Lambeth has always been active in issues of importance to North Carolina. He worked with Terry Sanford on his gubernatorial campaign and became administrative assistant to Governor Sanford. During that period Lambeth played a key role in the discussions surrounding the creation of the North Carolina Community College System in 1963.
The State Board presented a posthumous I. E. Ready to John William Disher. As president of the North Carolina Association of Community College Trustees and 14 years as a member (nine years as chair) of the Board of Trustees of Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC), Disher was dedicated to the success of the CPCC and the entire community college system. Disher's life of service began early. After graduating from Charlotte College (now the University of North Carolina at Charlotte) he served in the U.S. Coast Guard Search and Rescue unit. He had a distinguished career with Lance, Inc., beginning as a management trainee in 1959, working up to president and chief executive officer and retiring as chairman of the board in 1966. A CPCC scholarship fund was established in his and wife Janey's honor and a building is named for him in the campus administration complex. His son, John accepted the award.
The I. E. Ready is the highest honor bestowed by the State Board of Community Colleges. Named for Isaac Epps Ready, the first state director of the Department of Community Colleges, it recognizes individuals who have made important contributions to the establishment and growth of North Carolina's community colleges.
The I.E. Ready was presented during a luncheon today, November 19, at the RBC Center. An audience of more than 300 attended the awards luncheon where several other individuals also received special honors.
The President of the Year Award, endowed by Wachovia, was established in 2001 to recognize an outstanding community college president. The winner this year received $8,000 and a plaque. His college foundation receives $2,000.
Dr. Edward Wilson, president of Wayne Community College, is the 2004 President of the Year. Wilson received his bachelor's and a master's degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his doctorate from North Carolina State University. Wilson's education career began in the public schools as a teacher, then assistant principal and principal. He began his community college career at Wayne CC as the education development officer and then associate vice president for instructional services. He served as president at Roanoke-Chowan Community college and a stint at the System Office as executive vice president and chief administrative officer. After eight years as an adjunct professor at NC State, he returned to Wayne CC as president in 1992.
The Excellence in Teaching (EIT) Award, endowed by R. J. Reynolds was presented at the luncheon. The EIT was established in 1985 by the State Board of Community Colleges to provide recognition for full-time teachers who exemplify the highest standards of instruction and professionalism in the classroom and who consistently demonstrate excellence in service to their colleges and communities. The EIT winner this year received $8,000 and a plaque. His college foundation will receive $2,000. Each EIT finalist received $500 and a plaque.
The 2004 Excellence In Teaching winner is Gerald Ittenbach, who has taught chemistry, physics and forensic chemistry at Fayetteville Technical Community College (FTCC) since 1981. Ittenbach, a graduate of North Carolina State University, earned a master's degree in education from East Carolina University. He taught in public school in Maryland and then returned to North Carolina to teach in two high schools before joining the staff at FTCC. Ittenbach has been honored for his teaching skills many times, but says the best honor is being in the classroom. "Community college teachers are caretakers of dreams…creators of possibilities," said Ittenbach.
Ittenbach was chosen from a group of five. The remaining four 2004 EIT finalists are: Heather Hebert, physical and social sciences division director at Carteret Community College; Joyce Smith, an associate degree nursing instructor at Halifax Community College; Barbara J. Cole, an English and humanities professor at Sandhills Community College; and Stephen C. Anderson, a speech instructor at Southeastern Community College.
The Staff Person of the Year Award was established in 2001 and endowed by BB&T to recognize the outstanding achievements of a staff member at one of North Carolina's community colleges. The recipient this year received $6,750 and a plaque. His college foundation receives $1,250.
The 2004 Staff Award recipient is Si Seymour, interim vice president of instruction at Craven Community College. Seymour is a graduate of College of The Albemarle and received his bachelor's and master's degrees from East Carolina University. He began his professional education career in the public schools and started teaching health and physical education at Craven CC in 1977. During that time he served as the college's athletic director and was named Coach of the Year for Region X in the National Junior College Athletic Association three times during his coaching career. Beginning in 1993, he assumed responsibility for the Craven Community College Foundation. Under his leadership the coffers grew from $70,000 to more than $1.2 million.
The final award presented this afternoon was the President's Leadership Award, selected by System President H. Martin Lancaster. It honors a student who has helped to improve campus life for their fellow students and has made significant contributions to their colleges and surrounding communities.
The President's Leadership Award recipient is Carole Davis, who graduated with an associate degree in applied science in accounting from Central Carolina Community College. In addition to being an academic success, she was also a talented student leader. Davis was active is the Student Government Association (SGA). She served as SGA secretary, vice president and finally president at Central Carolina. Her leadership skills led to her election as president of the North Carolina Comprehensive Community College Student Government Association (N4CSGA) in 2003. In that capacity she served as the student member of the State Board of Community Colleges for the past year. She is now a staff accountant with a firm in Raleigh, married and the mother of three.
The event was also held to recognize all of the community college and System Office retirees for the last year. The 315 individuals who retired between July 2, 2003 and July 1, 2004 amassed more than nine thousand years working in the System Office and at individual community colleges. Several of the retirees attended the luncheon to receive special recognition.
The luncheon followed the State Board of Community Colleges meeting. State Board action included:
- Approval of Dr. Lawrence L, Rouse as the new
president at James Sprunt Community College, effective January 1, 2005. Dr.
Rouse has served as dean of student services at Johnston Community College
since June of 2000.
- Approval of Dr. Michael Reaves as interim president of Brunswick Community College. Dr. Reaves is retiring as Brunswick president on January 1, 2005. He will serve as interim president until June 30, 2005, unless his successor is hired prior to that date.
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